Focus scale and Framing

[exe163]

I have a few basic questions. For distance scale on the lens, does it measure from the tip of the lens to the subject or from the film?

I am having some trouble trying to get the precise framing. I noticed that the framelines on my M4 shift as I change the focus distance. Sometimes, I want to have a symmetric shot (e.g. straight railroad). How do I do it? Do I need to be at infinity to have to framelines lined up correctly? And how does it work at close focus?

 

[KenD]

Distance is ordinarily to the film plane.

The framelines are supposed to shift - that is the parallax correction.